Heading South This Weekend? Plan Ahead, Officials Say

If a trip south of the border this long weekend is on your agenda, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is reminding travellers to plan ahead.

As many Manitobans head to the United States for some early Christmas shopping, or just for some relaxation, the CBSA is making every effort to minimize border wait times during peak periods.

The CBSA says the most traffic-heavy time to cross the border is between 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The 24-hour crossing at Emerson, Manitoba back into Canada has multiple lanes to accommodate traffic flow, while the smaller crossing on Highway 59 operates on restricted hours and has one lane.

Upon returning, officials say to have all receipts handy and the total amount you spent calculated in Canadian funds.

For trips 24 hours or more, the tax and duty-free exemption on goods is $50 CAN. Forty-eight hours or more is $400, and seven days or more is $750.